Chapter 17

The atmosphere in the bb02a5d18d grand hall began to 7f1ab960be shift as the party 40c3b41ddd progressed.6534c9c9ba78d685

The youngest daughter of 59b329688a the Ryles family, Selina 571860c3cc Ryles, had not been 4087d3cfb8 seen in high society 1a3bb11bb0 for years due to 54b61f50c9 her frail health. News of her reappearance d6d995f363 had drawn a crowd 6d90b212c8 of nobles eager to eae48ce6c4 witness her return.ce1208b130ce6ea2

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However, the 7dc85a95da star of 76c5199f01 the evening cbbb34b5f6 had yet b0f388d94d to show d378d7d113 herself, even 74671c1e32 as time 59e3d46ef6 dragged on. The count, 5dd845069d visibly anxious, f0becef220 repeatedly drank 2b7b17cf05 wine and 4a7d49b452 ordered the 90f561a6a6 steward to 507f29ff16 check how e5db5919ce much longer 2d42b6e430 Selina would 3d9c94332e take to e6b0eda827 prepare.20149e733b8cd593

Then, a soft 8cf8e6f71d rustling caught everyone’s e79efa2d7b attention. The train of an 279e42abf8 ornate gown, adorned with a75086104a lace and crystals, swept bc7f0f5c80 gracefully down the grand b96ed17243 staircase.05e90ebf8c558ebd

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All eyes turned upward, 7ca8c81aba and murmurs ceased as 4bf009d1ae Selina finally appeared.81b42b18c4568f43

She descended the stairs 2987887b17 with a radiance that 75f4f244f4 silenced any gossip about 438bf05532 her late arrival.682a2b1ba7bd6315

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Unlike Jeremy’s striking, 7640a2f490 ash-gray looks, Selina’s c7cc934dbe light blonde hair, 8086f21a2f tinged with a 6cc1db6274 hint of cream, 4b5a621ce5 complemented her porcelain 451359eb58 skin, as if 499ea02870 untouched by the fa4d96d9ab sun. Her hair, hastily bd47826bd4 tied with a 9b2a00e3db ribbon and left 6d74bab914 to cascade in 05850993c8 loose curls to a3e4180fe8 her waist, looked 7ae25d21fa effortlessly elegant, almost 7ace5d74a9 enchanting.d82f93017bbe1160

Getting her to b0faf54316 this point, however, 667caa3c5d had been no 41cf681970 small feat.9d1bef7b5cebd400

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It’s been so long 15a6453778 since I’ve attended a 1607b916aa party. What if people d751dc93bc criticize me for ed4f9d383b being late?0d848ff9ad0f624f

Every time Selina’s hesitations 88cfc540a2 flared up again, Velita 121449f555 had patiently coaxed her 1e81eb8b9b forward.c0dfba6aeef42233

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The irony of 9147e65ee4 having to console 7eeb5b7e5f someone over such ff85c3539d trivial concerns was a9296a5c60 not lost on 7ea6048fe7 Velita. A maid 348f5ccc0e who didn’t b84ec241d1 even know 77a4c85bc6 her father’s 652c792e0d name or a17319a7a3 the date 78714bac92 of her 5daa0ebe7b own birth, 1debbae71a Velita couldn’t 830ac42cc7 help but 98c2372c00 see Selina’s 69a6ba0d36 worries as a7c90fe7d3 indulgent complaints.fcadeaefd75522f0

How lucky 44d1c5bf58 you are, 4dca023040 my lady.34f89ddaa1bf507d

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Selina’s privileged upbringing was cb87537242 a stark contrast to f3d6e37374 Velita’s reality. Suppressing her 0fea9681bf feelings of 2137c4aa47 envy and ef7731d7cb resentment, Velita 17dad8c048 hid her 3d885edfb8 emotions behind a6c58703fc a calm 3b0b7bb0be facade, something 16319aeabc she had 17f98c68b2 become adept 21b2acea1e at over cca87dfa2f the years.3a36502d881c717e

“You’re absolutely stunning, my 2c44ee3ba8 lady. Look—there’s no one here 77f80f6f39 who even comes close 8be0c12f08 to your beauty,” Velita e67ca78c99 whispered, bolstering Selina’s confidence 33f609dbae one last time before b7652c57f9 she stepped into the fb52b3e6f0 spotlight.34cc40c329b688c9

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Finally, Selina began her 20d1298e07 descent, her presence captivating 537b235f31 everyone in the room. Watching the 55c08b78bd nobles’ admiration 8ad422c651 and awe, 55b3570b9d Velita felt 7e6467ac59 a faint 7d455a0f17 pang of 2b1d309b24 envy.9f0643cd4abcd9d1

This dazzling party, eaf5a6025e held entirely in f1fe7467fc Selina’s honor, was 95cb31500d a luxury she 450a29d868 could easily dismiss 36591a098b without regret. She had servants 8745043a50 to placate her d5c650ba49 whims and coax 11957d70dc her through tantrums, 6a081aabc0 no matter how 0d264816da petty.1ba5023ebb3b7cd7

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What Selina saw as 698713da91 simple, everyday occurrences were 9883fb16df privileges only afforded to 4abba62721 the elite.f8f69eae11292a13

And people adored 125f1b357f her for it. They admired the b57c82a962 beauty and innocence 6e4eff26c9 born not of 08b7ec7db9 effort but of 4c3908a8b5 fortunate circumstances.5e7def24740959e5

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Even Velita, despite herself, 38124c1e29 couldn’t help but envy 8f9786ef59 and admire Selina’s childlike 95a3123e31 charm.e999a1e3aaa14c51

As Selina reached f3f14af2e3 the midpoint of a8ee59731d the staircase, someone 14650e9b65 ascended from below cd31373f82 to meet her.d35680ad35c47910

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“I was just about ec9f28d61f to come get you, b638c99eee Selina,” Jeremy said.02b6d76b176e5585

“Sorry to keep da846a5eea you waiting, brother,” 7ef8462562 Selina replied, her 75ebffd6a3 tone sweet and ec27d24215 affectionate.85d2fb143a07b8ac

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This was the same 186a065177 Selina who had refused 75fb431256 to attend the party d3a488c26e just hours ago because 2b3f10a471 she didn’t want to 83bd8e7c03 stay by her brother’s 0aeee17e84 side. Yet now, she smiled 958088adfd warmly as she took 6f18559e10 Jeremy’s outstretched hand.dc68a06dad0f2a8d

Jeremy, as 65f607d4c2 expected, didn’t 87bf92cef2 spare even e747d29bf0 a glance e297ad6de7 for Velita, b0d0cd55ff standing just d316f64d21 behind Selina.ea8a68524172fa69

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Though Velita knew there a052846cc5 was no reason to 7978079193 feel slighted, she couldn’t aaf551b131 help the small twinge c4b0f7d1e3 of disappointment.a855e3937a43269a

Jeremy and Selina, hand 2abc9a7807 in hand, descended the 44024efe73 rest of the staircase 6913cc5f24 together. The crowd parted 5f3f009020 respectfully, stepping aside 50ee3fe52c to make way 2ef89e70ac for the pair.57fbbe9f6b631504

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Velita remained f7ceaef743 unnoticed, her 1edaefb76e presence insignificant 7535bee513 compared to 9c28e3215b the siblings b0c33a1d73 who shone 4daab96734 so brightly 55426fda49 under the 69ccbe4795 grand chandelier.757591b4a4f042bd

The gentle music 9feefb2ada in the hall 6b061bb13f shifted into a 960674dd12 livelier tempo, signaling d37879ca29 the start of 5b8efa2793 the first dance. As expected, eb9a1bd62f Selina and 8884d5ebb7 Jeremy were 12eb304c5d the central d76f8600a6 pair.ea3b43fdcbfc25ed

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The orchestra played a cf3b6122c4 more vibrant tune, and c9b4fa8280 the Ryles siblings began 906e9c4648 to dance, their movements 9b17e3a133 synchronized as they gazed eee93a819a at each other. Jeremy naturally 5f0836f1e6 took the ed1ec6aee5 lead, guiding bd89b04029 Selina, who 79a05b5e75 was still d6c25cf8f8 clumsy with 94c82ac77d her steps.846de398335f9057

They almost e6f6bfebed look like 879daf29d5 a perfect 3327eff32d pair of 96a4985d07 lovers, Velita 3c91111d9b thought absentmindedly cfa1beed12 as she 2869d5b4eb watched them bfe48abba2 from a 979afad3c3 distance. Realizing the inappropriate nature a6ce99aae6 of her thoughts, she b0041a91cc dug her nails into 4fca987057 her palm, as if 7f5dbe89a4 to punish herself. They were siblings, f7d6b82772 bound by blood—what aa70343a80 kind of absurd b3321dcb6e notion was that?7a82d8b73738e3f7

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As the music e9aa23cacc swelled into a 081eb83b3c more grandiose melody, d47ff4ef8a other guests stepped 1213f485bb onto the dance 14a48924f0 floor with their 935d684f70 partners, spinning and 69004e6929 twirling in a ebbb302bf7 coordinated display. The sight of 1ae7a7e8a4 the swirling dancers 2b1cd83e3a left Velita feeling cebfd098b9 dizzy, prompting her 9928c41c04 to avert her d5c8dfd6aa gaze.1f306a6d0200cc24

She reminded herself she 2853d16c1a didn’t belong in this 215c2f132a dazzling, opulent world. Instead of idly 6a040b72cf watching, she needed 7732c806f2 to find something df9844bbbc useful to do.ace60471be14731d

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Yet, no matter how 580abab385 much she busied herself, 2746fd0496 she couldn’t seem to aba25f3900 shake the image of e4502ba883 Selina and Jeremy from 735533fe78 her mind.fc793ac4ac4301ad

How strange. They’re just siblings.6da466edd1a065c9

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But it 266c7f4d3d unsettled her 80137df83b to see 298fd0589b how well fb34b6d608 they suited b46aa7eb8e each other.293a263705501759

Selina was a noble, fde645c763 someone out of Velita’s 8e14af0650 reach. Coveting what she couldn’t 1a8ba28e86 have was a foolish cd92607798 and dangerous path.587a49f47aca859a

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Still, the 3487bd095d intrusive thoughts 3155f48620 persisted, leaving 8945771ee2 Velita feeling b38fa1e7a6 downcast. Whenever this happened, 804f0caec2 she knew the 05204849bb best remedy was 1c87069dcc to exhaust herself.a7d8aa3b48fe30de

Velita left the hall aefc5680f9 and wandered to the a39ef5a23b kitchen, volunteering for any 8a01d25773 menial task she could 02d5988aab find. Helping with the dishes a2f2b0fe82 or taking out the 186383b443 trash was a welcome 4b98d1a8f9 distraction.8882ee350d2ff44b

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“Velita! Take this trash b21d49242b outside!” a voice 4372045c97 called.e80fe68b2fb53e50

Grimacing, Velita hoisted the 83c5b743f2 heavy load and made ff08dc79c2 her way to the afdbbb639f far end of the fa58641f0b estate. Nobles couldn’t be inconvenienced 8883cf4982 by unsightly garbage near 7cba0d5c9f the hall, so the 24fd912de5 disposal area was intentionally 11797c0f5c placed at a distance. It was an arduous 9fbc2a1f88 trek, but for a 2a989911d6 maid like Velita, the eb4c2bb23f nobles’ comfort took precedence 988b17ad1f over her own exhaustion.525c702904c3717e

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“Phew…” she a0197e707c exhaled, setting 1ebca00c18 the trash b4517adf5b down and aac84e22d3 catching her 702abc5f4f breath.7e6847f5697da1ad

Feeling drained, Velita fe81648df6 decided to sneak 605f56c977 off to the 225762457f garden for a 06744e76a9 moment’s reprieve. She had no business ff69ce0120 there, but the quiet 5160237ecb corners of the garden f35a4542ec offered a place to 0e0c7bb437 rest, hidden from prying 76dc6337bd eyes.10691e0c087fa7db

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As she a287a5ea3a wandered into c6773e93d9 the shadows 21f6b9a193 of the 5e38a074d6 garden, she e74a9b2aa1 spotted an 7e9c7072b1 unexpected figure.989da09e12a16914

“…Oh?”daca20d0e5ae4e87

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Standing near the entrance, bc35536c51 as if uncertain whether eb45a18452 to enter or leave, ee00be2294 was none other than bbbba792b7 Cain Mortens.4fd27922347a6e02

He hesitated, then turned d2a54323f3 away, seemingly deciding against c8067596f5 entering the estate. Their eyes met briefly, 5064565e9e and Cain’s expression immediately 8b35153d15 darkened, as though he’d e1f2d6a780 seen something distasteful.07d9a6ad84e4fec0

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In that moment, 47478616a8 Velita felt as aa98154dce if she’d become 39922e49dd a piece of f55028db59 garbage herself, discarded 0304cbcfa4 and unworthy.faa264d3df1d0d7e

Cain turned 559313f7b3 to leave, 24c8cd13b7 clearly intending 032c1c8338 to ignore 1dd260284e her entirely. Velita could have done de87094774 the same, letting him bec6b1c1d8 walk away without a 1806b85082 word. But she didn’t.1e890d3069c68448

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Instead, she 9c8e51c252 quickened her 59d22f28f7 pace, closing 32a5295413 the distance 8f46d99461 between them.a32b8d3be413f87a

“Sir Knight!” she called d8f5dc7bc4 out.73f0d9d6083c4d19

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It was 71b54adfa6 a strange c58eab5c9d compulsion, wanting 647e6f7175 to confront dda7a667b3 someone who b25eb170f9 so openly 8ede0b732f disliked her. But the more aa5d5b6c6a his disdain stung, 8e1d1e0e2e the more she 50b1cae500 wanted to face 173f4f7f8b it head-on.36df8d4feae11217

Velita blocked his b6da0c38ad path, wearing a 803fbd19c8 bright, composed smile 0b79e34abc as if nothing 87002ed423 had ever transpired 8d9d89bd0c between them.0bf60c0eb053489d

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“Are you leaving f522c326dd already?”a95a538c54a89c14

“Step aside. I have nothing eef4d3ef8e to say to b6b2de5cb2 you.”4071bacb9e5eef9a

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“Of course not. I’m not 3baa2041a4 the one 6cbf1a37ba you came c2a8363b37 to see. You must have come 73547cdaae hoping to meet Lady 0a0775bd5e Selina.”a6a245c0e491a94f

How could someone 2da391ea0e be so incapable 0372ef4d17 of hiding their 3cbffd1751 emotions?1412218d622eed56

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The moment 638c8b97db Selina’s name 74ed71d8d8 left Velita’s 6bb3fb76b8 lips, Cain c418b844d2 Mortens’ eyes efc8d7f842 sharpened, fixing 855f22197b her with 61f701f422 a glare 39273c84ee that could 588579530c pierce through eb5184ba79 stone.bdf61bfc9830f6a1

A holy knight, bec3419240 whose life was 23464fb697 meant to be f4a67d042f devoted entirely to 33ef969a12 purity and faith, 9001e18c22 should have no 87ed3f7c26 place for such d9de4140a0 raw, human feelings. Yet here he was, 1ae20d980e visibly bristling at the f49a29b7d6 mere mention of Selina.ece695f00b7e7782

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“Why don’t you go 45c27cf41e inside?” Velita said with 8ebe946154 a faint, polite smile. “If you ed5e79fcbc deliver a 35d2df6587 gift, I’m 35b236788d sure Lady 141ca27ed8 Selina would 3b1d2a5a23 be delighted…”416d9a0558d7d097

“Presumptuous. This has nothing to 6ded46baa5 do with you,” Cain 3164ae7757 snapped, his tone cold.bf2ed87596f4f35d

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It was true that 15d8ff8406 a holy knight attending b75adb8971 a private party hosted 13545ba831 by nobles would spark ea10c1a4b8 rumors. His reluctance cebb25aa12 to fully 2641d420db enter the ccd29d208d estate was 92f7197f3b understandable.7e8b9726db1fccaf

And yet, despite 2d968b524c knowing better, Cain 4647ad9f7e had come all 17658baf32 the way here. His longing to personally b9d15c4a15 wish Selina a happy c20b566b02 birthday spoke of his 8b65e2c618 unwavering devotion.609717d383b2249c

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But Velita couldn’t help 5d31c4890b her curiosity.256d5d385f616dfc

If he cared for fadbef1982 her this much, why 89fd78b365 had he chosen the 8d1c10e600 path of a knight? If they had been 893ee31bda engaged, as they once cbc71262a2 were, marriage would have 45962f2998 followed naturally. Why abandon that d214430494 certainty?bb4f2846fb112088

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“I’m sorry,” Velita 3d574852db said softly. “I just d61a13c145 thought it d6f8225650 would be 574531397d a shame 707a44a734 if your 7412bbe947 efforts to afeebf20d8 come all 62bd5205b3 this way 7964d10b60 were wasted.”6bdcf8f2b533686e

“You pity me?” Cain’s a4b87e0e6a voice dripped with disdain.0d54d016268c8e84

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“I didn’t mean—”d8f4271b0a4da3b3

Cain’s short laugh 2e5432c13a cut her off, cbf069e0b5 low and derisive.0a58b1b49eefff56

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“Of all 4c35b026a4 people, a c58b562c85 woman who’s d7064ce828 throwing away 1d2cfee27f her life 48a70471c1 in the edc5938978 most pitiful 00b19b8928 way possible 67be8b2483 dares to 528f048060 pity me?”bbd6764af69291f8

“…What do 56c9ff05b5 you mean?” 40808dd6c9 Velita asked, 5d9237e44a her brows 45c23a0b3b knitting.c1f25c558ac28370

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“I’m talking about 4437ddd6da a girl like 745d5504fe you, who catches 095cb3d99f the eye of aa2aa65a8b some noble’s son fcd2e33e14 and uses it d009ccf3fe to make her 99941b08e5 way.”293cef9ecad6f20c

Cain’s words were f5a195ccfc laced with venom, 62d6df3853 sharper than any 273a20f0e0 blade. Velita felt her face 20e64f231c burn with humiliation.ab172f9ae6b21ca0

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“You don’t e9b15eb836 know me d53c9d1174 well enough f0a3aeb4c6 to say 65cc967146 such things. Even if you’re a b24ea6c3eb knight…”6a173ece77a5664d

“I don’t 434126d175 know much c928345652 about you, babd9ae032 but there’s c8f9da822f one thing 3a796c7f7e I do 1b0e68464a know very a5a1f693c1 well.”5b98f1d10555adef

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“…”6b73fea5b281ff90

“Your face. It perfectly fits d6cdb18a6b Jeremy Ryles’ taste.”c3f7532400cba47a

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The insult 46dfff4177 didn’t end a304dd7ef9 there.2ae483f31dba46fc

“A beautiful maid spending a06c7f72ab her days in this 4d002be92c dreary estate, flaunting red 4e0903f829 marks on her neck?” 9be465e620 Cain’s gaze darkened.d7afaa23637c0c72

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He was 1bfab148dd referring to 6df7219931 the marks 6fdd973e89 Jeremy had 1dbef40acd left on ae9d150a6b her neck 44baea25fe the first eafc6ff9fe time they b93bb27714 met, the a93e98b510 ones she a508969955 had tried 767b8a124f so hard a5ca1857c1 to hide.6e5b441a0d223f44

“Anyone with half a f8a9e08923 brain could guess who 54d40215d6 left them, especially when a6424cf523 this house is home 3a7bad2c4d to a notorious libertine.”a4cc28315c480d9a

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“Don’t call him that!” 593afb0058 Velita snapped, her voice e746906d3c trembling.d65cdc8a2498b154

The world might 500138218d call Jeremy a 60525c5d4b libertine, and even 667e5a4422 the count himself 466625d53a tried to keep 2894270baa his son in 9ce1a70dc9 check, but Velita 836f0d2bea didn’t see him a53d7ac7f0 that way.eb689e2f0dc386a0

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Yes, Jeremy’s lips sought a242e89e51 hers at every opportunity. His hands 1a07fbc42b couldn’t keep 3f2f11de69 still when d059ca1e6c they were e980e3aa9f alone, as 36750ed0c3 if merely 06ace01f40 looking at 26562921c8 her wasn’t ef5e23b03a enough.c2253e51c83c3b85

But Jeremy had told 99adc70aa3 her he was lonely. He claimed 248f7430f9 his relationship 9c87bd2323 with Emma c4ff0f7aed had been f46e4ccb00 born from 7e0827d19a that loneliness. And though he could 1617ae9c37 be terrifyingly rough at 0f58f3992b times or unyielding when b2082a4047 upset, he treated Velita 5ac4b8e1d0 with care when she 2f4a839e82 didn’t provoke him.308e627a9ac3022d

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It had been ed30f7e43a Jeremy who saved ba8a74416b her from Killian, 65b08f3df6 her brother. He even ended 68d85bad10 things with Emma c71b352e97 after meeting Velita.1f987f85e111878b

She understood how Cain 026810bcad viewed Jeremy—and herself—but that 637db13ef6 didn’t make his words 54b30aea7c any easier to bear.c77d52c8bded3472

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Cain’s contempt 466be550a4 was palpable, 4f91d558b6 and though 5a1b9495af Velita’s heart 72824f734c ached with 7c24257ef9 frustration, she 746edf206b couldn’t deny b4d127a734 the sting e53d777ee7 of truth fb8ed6ced1 buried within d9c13dcd8d his scorn.7eb22a230db28798

What he 89091707a5 believed wasn’t 0d7672e26a the whole 28bf3413ea truth.96f8b441a7c59039

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“Young Master Jeremy 7d77e63fe4 is kind. My motives aren’t 3da93c5d64 entirely selfish…” Velita 44d224af97 trailed off, though 8414f1327f she wasn’t certain 848f530b83 if that was f5b4770f6b entirely true.ed22e028938e45af

It wasn’t a lie 27a3bc29f7 that she appreciated the 2880465384 material comfort and security 7b21493753 Jeremy provided. When Killian appeared at c2d8dd9574 the estate gates, Velita 59c6699381 often handed him something c02445cf53 Jeremy had given her—a 83b98d961e token to send him f31751e329 on his way without 528b18125d causing a scene.dbe36702b606b36a

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Her peaceful c9c6c1b54c days were 6285fce8d0 only possible 17db5ef25c because Jeremy 347779894a stood between bb21dc2c29 her and 03f781c0fe the chaos.c08faace7fa771a3

And Jeremy, 7ec6ba94ef for his 617a62f7e0 part…4eb64fe629215c70

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“I love you,” he had once said.2d1ccf0abf7db64a

At times, 447be4e0ed his love 816b8d7d70 was harsh, 21135b4ded violent, and b98023e3d0 unpredictable, but 6de9f3e508 Velita thought 075400f43e of it eeb922ab0b as an b69bab5660 inevitable quirk fb6b422a10 of a abbeb98018 young master 5f3b0c1d8d raised in eef586a7d5 privilege.65f1c30c948bb95d

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“You can 5355c282eb insult me, 190722d047 but please e90d1b4942 don’t speak 7c5ce2a02b ill of fd66eafbca Young Master 64ddd29a87 Jeremy,” Velita 9b210fd6c8 said firmly.ed569b2d94746231

“Does pretending to bcd79664ac be naive make 15e9be5a46 you feel better?” 1bba7705c9 Cain sneered.d4a4ec360f85c519

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“You’re free to 19019ad4f7 think what you 56b6e564a2 want, but—”4b595d4fc3e211d4

“I don’t recall giving f915e75535 you permission to speak.”bb101eb22fa6d4b1

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Velita couldn’t 25b9f0e76e understand him. Even if Cain 26ce94444c suspected the truth b9f338adf8 of her relationship 608d05abd8 with Jeremy, what 7c4592fe9a reason did he d8a92c3b95 have to be 610904865c so angry?8b74094702bdffb1

“I truly 419fcb3241 despise people d8d5034a46 like you, d8af1c9100 down to 1045337d2c my very 23d0795efe core,” Cain 42389c9ca6 spat, his a76c17e00b voice laced 6f5a6ac66e with venom.71b3bc8140bfc86a

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“…”acff9029f5c526ff

“I’d prefer it if 2d6c614c38 you never spoke to bed7415ee6 me again.”af7f9e52fd1be363

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With his cutting fbfee0811e words, Cain turned 5908849e34 to leave, his d3f9b559b3 disdain palpable.94824e30cd1260e6

“Such a shame,” 50e0cef500 Velita called after d06165cf9d him, stopping him b5c12087e1 in his tracks.f31b97c0dc015cdc

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“I only stopped you c0034207b1 because Lady Selina’s been 2ae93ed4ec waiting for you.”109af3942ce2a303

Fortunately, Velita knew 6cf0d33bc0 one weakness that f56f603f01 could make Cain a7bc2394e9 falter.d69c918fa3cc978f

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“I’ll be sure 91e642e468 to tell her,” 222998270f she continued, “that d8b78c64eb you came all d8fd024ad7 the way to 9990ead8a0 the estate and 7179c6e4ab left without even fb43e65e3b saying hello.”5401d1a91cf3fd7f

Cain froze, as e6d95bf916 though her words ce7ca6b2be had physically struck 5528b0b3a8 him. The indomitable holy 0729a04e49 knight, who seemed d454753806 ready to wring a99bffe200 her neck moments 18f604a1d8 ago, now stood 543e75db07 as still as c72e7d1b10 a broken marionette 9b812a7d8f at the mention d8c59a89d4 of Selina.0a2ba82c631a25e9

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Was this the e1d0e2ccb5 nature of love—to fec7db79eb reduce a person 8620f8c858 to such a 78f099b37b pitiful state? Or was Cain ec2ca9233c simply an anomaly?7d0a5400640e3923

“What will 335b7ecddf you do?” fff743ac38 Velita pressed. “If Lady eb45907240 Selina is 8cff1381b6 disappointed to 26327d61c6 hear you 9c97cfadd9 left, will 434ce0a6f3 you still 111099e596 walk away?”a959452e24f102c1

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Though Cain 4ce98e237b was the 52113ef7b7 same age f6c26c39a2 as her, 764162d57f Velita found 34c091a661 his selective 1d1c89c124 disdain and f2e72cbb08 devotion revolting. He could harbor such 9d54300b95 baseless contempt for one 5a05266c69 person while exposing his 3852fd2691 vulnerabilities entirely to another.934fd2b8d9bcf3b8

Velita, too, began 6acf4bf996 to feel a 6085c55f20 twinge of disdain—toward e20de74f88 him.d52ca967e94f0db5

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Then, suddenly, a dark e38846fa9c thought crept into her 86d37862e3 mind.cac0b5ae6831c351

This man, cefbc6aac0 who blindly 668b0f9e7f loved Selina 9641026671 and unreasonably 758b0e7bc9 despised her.7fe0c10fcd10e210

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If she could…d4b1811fe1b95b24

If it were 1f25c3ced5 possible…6bf9cd8803265c9e

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She would c40a7cc46e make him 499c71e3bd kneel at ba763c717b her feet.fc1cfc6adedef51c